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Defence forces Deployment to UNDOF

The Government at today’s meeting (16th July 2013) approved a proposal from the Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence, Mr Alan Shatter, T.D. for the deployment of a contingent of the Permanent Defence Force for service with the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in Syria.

The Minister will proceed later this week to seek Dáil Éireann approval for the mission. This will complete the Triple Lock mechanism of UN, Government and Dáil approval before deploying members of the Defence Forces overseas as part of an International United Nations Force.

The United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) was established on 31 May 1974 by the United Nations Security Council Resolution 350 (1974), following the agreed disengagement of the Israeli and Syrian forces in the Golan Heights in May 1974.

The escalation of the conflict in the Syrian Arab Republic has affected the UNDOF area of operations significantly in recent months. If approved by Dáil Éireann, the role of the Defence Forces contingent will be to provide a mobile Company as Force Headquarters Reserve in UNDOF to cater for reinforcement, escort and other operations throughout UNDOF’s Area of Responsibility.

Speaking following the Government decision, the Minister said: “UNDOF remains an important element in ensuring some level of stability in the region.” He added “It is important that UNDOF has at its disposal all necessary means and resources to carry out its mandate safely and securely. The support of troop contributing countries, such as Ireland, to UNDOF, allows the mission to continue implementing its mandate in a safe and secure manner.” He went on to say that “the proposed deployment of an Irish contingent to UNDOF, if approved by Dáil Éireann, would bring the strength of the mission up to the authorised level of 1,250.”

END

Note to Editor

On 1 July 2013, Ireland received a request from the United Nations to consider contributing to UNDOF a Mechanised Infantry Company for the tasks of a Force Mobile Reserve. The Defence Forces have previous experience in a similar role in Liberia and Lebanon.
Following Government approval, three members of the Permanent Defence Force were deployed in June 2013 to the UNDOF mission headquarters at Camp Faouar in the Golan Heights. A fourth member of the Permanent Defence Force will be deployed to the mission HQ shortly.

The mandate of the UNDOF mission was recently renewed under UN Security Council Resolution 2108 (2013) for a further period of six months.

UNDOF is assisted by over eighty (80) military observers from the United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation’s (UNTSO) Observer Group Golan, which currently includes ten (10) Irish Officers.

From The Examiner
The Defence Forces already have more than 10 soldiers with the United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation’s (UNTSO) Observer Group Golan in Syria, with hundreds in Liberia and Lebanon

Another example of lazy journalism. I would expect nothing less from the Cork Examiner.

The Irish deployment will take over where the Austrians bailed out due to their positions being shelled etc. It will not be an easy trip. Hopefully the deployment will have the best protection possible.

IDF patrol comes under fire on Golan Heights
By YAAKOV LAPPIN
07/17/2013 00:01
No injuries among IDF soldiers in the incident.

An army force on a routine patrol of the border with Syria on the Golan Heights came under fire and shot back at a group of unidentified suspects on the frontier.
There were no injuries among IDF soldiers in the incident.
IDF soldiers identified a group of suspects who had entered an unmanned military post along the Syrian-Israeli border.
The suspects did not cross the border fence, but were in Israeli territory when they attacked the IDF, an army spokeswoman said. The results of the return fire are not known at this stage.
The army has launched a search of the area.
The IDF has been placed on higher alert in light of the escalation in the Syrian civil war. Earlier on Tuesday, several stray mortar shells fired amid intense battles between the Syrian army and rebels exploded in Israeli territory on the northern Golan Heights.
Locals reported hearing dozens of blasts, but the IDF has counted fewer than seven shells that crossed the frontier.
Some of the civil war battles are taking place near the Syrian village of Al-Madariya.
Israeli residents reported hearing blasts throughout the day, though the IDF did not issue locals special safety instructions or reduce civilian movements on the Golan Heights.
Earlier this year, the army fired a Tamuz guided surface-to-surface missile at a Syrian army post following two incidents of gunfire directed at Israeli soldiers.
The missile struck its target, reportedly wounding two Syrian soldiers at a machine-gun nest. There were no injuries or damage reported on the Israeli side, the army said.
Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon said as he took a severe view of the two shooting incidents from Syria.
The IDF response was in line with government policy, which holds that “every violation of Israeli sovereignty and firing from the Syrian side will be answered immediately through the silencing of the source of fire when it is identified,” Ya’alon said. “We see the Syrian regime as being responsible for all violations of sovereignty.
“We won’t allow the Syrian army or any other element to violate Israeli sovereignty by opening fire at our territory.http://www.jpost.com/Defense/IDF-pat...-border-320067

I wonder what armour will go?
how many support bodies etc to keep our bodies in the field?
I,d imagine something like 3 pln,s inf with coy cmdr etc the rest will be logs

The current FMR know as Force Headquarters Company is carried out by the Philippines troops since the Austrians pulled out. Their armour is UN supplied, mostly Sisu APC's with a number of M113's and RG32M's also used. AFAIK all the AFVs are unarmed.
I would say the Irish Inf Gp will bring with it its own Mowag's APC's as well as a number of Mowag CRVs and LTAVs. The usual CSS will be needed.

The current FMR know as Force Headquarters Company is carried out by the Philippines troops since the Austrians pulled out. Their armour is UN supplied, mostly Sisu APC's with a number of M113's and RG32M's also used. AFAIK all the AFVs are unarmed.
I would say the Irish Inf Gp will bring with it its own Mowag's APC's as well as a number of Mowag CRVs and LTAVs. The usual CSS will be needed.

I am sure a trip overseas is good for morale, however and its a big however, what will be the rules of engagement , what role will they actually have , dont mind what the UN haedquarters thinks and says say they are supposed to do,
How will they protect themselves, will they have the capacity to do so if the RoEs say so, etc Its only a few weeks ago that a whole bunch of the Philipinos were held captive etc, Will the Irish just become hostages in a political game like say the early UNIFIL outposts in IDF / SLA controlled areas,
These questions need to be addressed. The Brass may like it, lots of cushy jobs with allowances in Jerusalem etc so lets be measured in our rersponse.

Same shite different AO, wonder will we ever have a Defence & Foreign affairs ministers who decide to send a Bn to somewhere where Ireland actually benefits. Send BN to the DRC/wherever with Irish mining firm and profit!

Same shite different AO, wonder will we ever have a Defence & Foreign affairs ministers who decide to send a Bn to somewhere where Ireland actually benefits. Send BN to the DRC/wherever with Irish mining firm and profit!

Same shite different AO, wonder will we ever have a Defence & Foreign affairs ministers who decide to send a Bn to somewhere where Ireland actually benefits. Send BN to the DRC/wherever with Irish mining firm and profit!

Agreed,

As for not doing colonialism The Irish did it for years in other peoples armies.

Just think what Executive Outcomes did in Sierra Leone for a fraction of what a much larger and more exspensive UN force could not achieve.
MOD: Edited to remove veiled attempts to stir up s**t and drag another thread off topic.

yes but its fmr role so will 30mm go mowag rws models go
small logs ?? cooks medics tpt ord sigs eng mp,s admin staff stores etc etc-- will all possible have a section atleast there it takes a lot of logs to keep a company in the field
look at what we did in kfor